HARLINGEN – Caught at a crossroads, Robert Day said he’s forced to choose between paying nearly $300 or risking his health to give his father a proper burial site.

His father, Ross L. Day, was a World War II veteran and an airplane mechanic, according to Day. He was laid to rest in 1980 at the Harlingen Combes Memorial Cemetery.

Day said he struggles finding rides to the cemetery. Earlier this month, he managed to revisit the site and was surprised to find his father’s gravesite marker was missing.

Day said the grass swallowed it whole. 

CHANNEL 5 NEWS reached out to Harlingen Combes Memorial Cemetery. Staff said Day can pay $285 to have the marker extracted. They will then place cement underneath it to prevent the same issue from happening again.

The only other alternative is for Day to take care of the maintenance himself. 

Day said doing maintenance would be tough.

“I need help. I can't do it. I need help. That's not right," he said.

We reached out to Harlingen's Veterans Affairs Office. They're stepping in to help and figuring out a way to restore the gravesite. 

In the state of Texas, perpetual care does not have to cover markers. According to the Texas Cemeteries Association, a perpetual care fee only covers the cemetery grounds and mausoleums.  

Perpetual care fees are designed to ensure that your loved one's grave won't get lost by overgrown grass and other debris. There is no set fee for this type of care and it varies by cemetery.